WEBVTT PATRINA: PAUL I JUST SPOKE TO, THE CLERK OF THE SUPER EIGHTMOTEL, WHO TELLS ME A PERSON BYTHE NAME OF RALPH ALLEN SHORTEYCHECKED IN AFTER MIDNIGHT ONMARCH 9, AND HE ASKED FOR TWOBEDS.HE SAYS MOORE POLICE ARRIVED ATTHE HOTEL ABOUT A HALF HOURLATER.MOORE POLICE TELLING KOCO 5TONIGHT THAT THEY WEREDISPATCHED TO THIS SUPER 8 MOTELOFF I-35 IN MOORE, THE MORNINGOF MARCH 9 IN REFERENCE TO AWELFARE CHECK.THEY COULDN'T TELL US WHOREQUESTED THE CHECK, BUTOFFICERS RESPONDED TO FIND AJUVENILE MALE IN THE ROOM ALONGWITH AN ADULT MALE.MOORE POLICE COULDN'T TELL US IFTHAT ADULT MALE WAS SENATORRALPH SHORTEY.BUT A SUPER 8 MOTEL EMPLOYEETELLS KOCO THAT SHORTEY CHECKEDINTO THE MOTEL ON MARCH 8 ANDCHECKED OUT MARCH 9.AND THAT THE HAD NEVER BEETHERE PRIOR TO THOSE DAYS.WE WENT TO SENATOR SHORTEY'SHOME AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACTHIM BY PHONE BUT WEREUNSUCCESSFUL THE CHAIR FOR THEOKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTYRELEASED A STATEMENT THISEVENING SAYING, WHILE A FINALRESOLUTION SHOULD AWAITCOMPLETION OF THE POLICEINVESTIGATION, SENATOR RALPHSHORTEY OWES IT TO HISCONSTITUENTS AND ALL TAXPAYERSTO SUSPEND HIMSELF FROM ALLOFFICIAL ACTIVITIES.THIS IS FAR TOO EMBARRASSING TOHAVE HIM SPEAK, VOTE ORREPRESENT OKLAHOMA ON ANY ISSUE.ACCORDING TO SHORTEY'S ONLINEBIO HE'S MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS.AND HAS BEEN A SENATOR SINCE2002.LIVE IN MOORE, PATRINA ADGER

KOCO has learned that Oklahoma police have recommended three prostitution-related charges against State Senator Ralph Shortey.

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These charges include: soliciting prostitution of a minor, prostitution within 1000 feet of a church and transporting for the purpose of prostitution.

Police say the investigation started after a man was found in a motel room with an underage boy. Employees at the Motel 8 in Moore say a person by the name of Ralph Shortey checked in on March 9 and shortly after police arrived.

Pam Pollard with the Oklahoma Republican Party released the following statement,

“The Oklahoma Republican Party takes all accusations against elected officials seriously, especially when the welfare of a minor is involved. We have reached out to Senator Shortey for comment and have not heard back from him at this time. We await the report from law enforcement on whether charges will be filed.”